NEWARK – Licking County Land Bank members debated what comes next for the vacant lot on the corner of Mount Vernon and Waterworks roads, and decided Thursday it will not be a heating and cooling business.

That's the decision, at least for now, for the site where an abandoned and dilapidated gas station sat for a decade before finally being demolished a year ago.

Seth Elliott, owner of Elliott Heating and Cooling, offered the land bank $50,000 for the property, where he hoped to move his small business from a shared space at 212 Mount Vernon Road.

The land bank, or Licking County Land and Re-utilization Corporation, voted 5-0 to reject Elliott's offer, leaving the quarter-acre property at 1100 Mount Vernon Road available for other potential buyers in the future.

Mayor Jeff Hall, a member of the land bank board, said it makes sense to wait and see what other potential developments could be attracted to the site. Elliott's offer was the first one for the property.

"If you're planning out the city, I don't think that's the kind of business we'd place on the corner," Hall said. "It's a prominent corner. The city spent quite a bit of money fixing it up. It sits right there on a state route (Ohio 13). It's a gateway into the community.

"We want to look at what's best for the community. Usually in an area, improvements start with corners. The gas station sat there forever, so I'm glad that got cleaned up. We do have to think of the future."

In 2010, a $4 million project connected Waterworks Road and Deo Drive at the current Mount Vernon Road intersection, closing an intersection and eliminating the congestion from two traffic lights located too close together. About $1.8 million was paid through federal stimulus funding.

Elliott asked land bank members, "Do we really need another CVS, dollar store or bank in this town, or do we want to build up a local business? I can't think of anything better than a local business."

Elliott proposed a 30-foot by 60-foot building, with three bays and office space attached. He said his business would not create much traffic to add congestion to Mount Vernon Road. He said the property has special significance to him because he grew up in the area.

"That lot is dear to my heart," Elliott said. "I bought bait there and fished around there. I want that corner lot for name recognition for my business."

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, a land bank member, said, "My only hesitation is when it's gone, it's gone. It's on a state highway and a development corridor. Sometimes you save them for the appropriate development. Combined with other properties, it could be a major development site."

The mayor said Elliott was not correct in saying there are no zoning issues with his plans for the property.

"He needs a few setback variances on the backside of it," Hall said. "It's not all approved for zoning."

An adjacent 1-acre property, at 1110 Mount Vernon Road, is owned by David Rhodes, the city service director. Rhodes has storage units on the property.

Elliott said he believes the land bank would have sold him the lot if not for Rhodes owning the adjacent property.

"I'm not the most intelligent man in the world, but I'm smart enough to see that," Elliott said. "I think there are some ethical things going on with the board. I got no counter offer. I think minds were made up before they want into the meeting. This isn't dead, in my mind. I talked to my attorney."

He said Rhodes offered him another Mount Vernon Road property, just south of Waterworks Road, where more of his storage units are located.

The mayor said, "Dave Rhodes owning the property behind it has nothing to do with anything. It's easy for people to go down that road, but it's far from the truth.

"I think, $50,000 is a heck of a deal, even as it sits. It's worth more than that. I think these corners are so critical to the area."

Hall said Rhodes is not aggressively trying to sell his property, but could potentially sell it.

"I don't want any perception we're trying to make him better," Hall said. "He'll step away just to make sure there isn't that perception. He's like anyone else, he'll sell for the right price. Those units can be dismantled and moved. It's not a big disruption to his business."

Rhodes, who declined to comment, is not a member of the land bank. The voting members are Hall, Bubb, Licking County Treasurer Olivia Parkinson, Licking County Commissioner Duane Flowers and Licking Township Trustee Joe Hart.

Formed in 2015, the land bank helps communities across the county acquire blighted commercial or residential properties and make improvements to the sites.